From Death 2 Life

Anshuman picks up his mobile and calls Aditi.”Hi Aditi i’m sorry for what happened on the college tour, I never wanted it to happen that way. It just happened. I’m really sorry” said he. “What do you mean it just happened Anshu. You never uttered a word to me on the whole tour. Every time its been me who came up to you and talked to you. And when ever you saw me coming your way, you just simply turned away as if I never existed and its not the first time you have done this sort of a thing. I simply can’t take it anymore. Either you consider me some sort of  a fool who always comes  your way to talk to you or else you are too proud, adamant, pompous and consider yourself some sort of prince charming and feel ashamed to talk to me infront of others” said she with an emotional tone. “That is never the thing Aditi, you don’t understand me…” said he. “ya I never understood you and now I never want to understand you” said Aditi interrupting Anshuman in between and disconnects the phone. He tries to call her again but she does’nt picks up the call.

The next day when Anshuman reaches college he tries to look for Aditi but that day she does’nt show up in college. Anshu goes up to Sandhya, Aditi’s roommate and asks her about Aditi. When she saw Anshu she fumes at him.. “I don’t know Anshu what’s the matter with you but if you feel ashamed to talk to her infront of other people then please don’t try to call her any more. This is not the first time that you are doing this. I remember the last Xmas vacations when you and your friends and me , Aditi and Drishya were on train together on our way back home. Before boarding the train you were constantly talking to her over the phone and once you both came face to face you never uttered a word, nor to her neither to anyone of us as if we never existed there on the train. We felt so disgusted and awkward at that time. And now you repeated it again on the Madras Tour. Enough is enough” said she and left the place.

Anshuman became highly disturbed and starts believing that something is really wrong with him and that is the reason why he’s so shy talking infront of other people. And infact of his calling Aditi a number of times she never responded and he lost all hope. All these situations caused him to take some decisions. He packs his bag and without saying a word to any one moves towards the railway station. On reaching the railway station he simply boards a train. After two minutes the train departs. Slowly the train gains speed. Anshuman stood at the gate of the train looking outisde. Behind him stood a man in his forties, tall and handsome. He found something suspicious in Anshuman standing there. He called out to Anshuman and asked him to close the gate but Anshuman paid no heed to him. And when the train reached a bridge he simply tried to jump from the train. Seeing which the man got hold of the bag he was holding on his back and pulled him inside. The man slapped Anshuman tight on his face and took him along and threw him into his compartment. In compartment along with the man his wife and daughter were also present. Anshuman begins to cry. Seeing her husband being angry with Anshuman she escorts him and asks her husband what the matter is. The man gets seated and tells them about what happened to which his wife and daughter became shocked. The man decides to take Anshuman home until his where abouts are known so that he can hand over him to his family.

The whole night the man was along with Anshuman in a room just to make sure he doesn’t attempt anything of that sort again. The next morining he asks Anshuman his address. “Please sir don’t inform my parents they won’nt be able to bear it” said Anshuman. “Then what do you think had they been able to see your dead body?” said the man to which Anshuman begins to cry. “Then what should I do” he shouts and cries. “What is that makes you take a such a big step in your life, failure in studies or any love failure” said he. Suddenly Anshuman looks up.”So love failure that is it..” said he.”It ain’nt really love failure sir, I’m  fed up of what and how I’m, I can’t take It anymore” and then he tells the man about whatever things happened that caused him to take this step.”I just don’t know what happens to me whenever I try to speak to her in front of other I always have this fear that somebody is watching me through out and people are looking at me and talking about me and laughing at me. And all these things cause me to avoid her infront of others and she mistook my fear as my rude and arrogant behaviour.” After hearing Anshuman the man maintained a silence for a few minutes and said “Actually it’s what we call social phobia and you are not alone in this world suffering from this medical condition and like other ailments this too can be cured with patience, support and a strong will.” Hearing this Anshuman anxiously asked ”Social Phobia…how can you say that”.”Well actaully I’m a doctor and has been treating such cases for the past 15 years. Don't worry you'll be fine”

And 10 years  later Anshuman came back to this very city where he tried to end his life once. Anshuman owns a house in this city and is married for past 9 years. Aditi also got married after college. He's now back home. He rings the door bell. His seven year old daughter opens the door and sees Anshuman. He takes her into his arms and asks her “ Where is your mamma dear?” to which his daughter says “She is in but I’ll only let you go if you complete the story of the shy guy that you left untold before going on your tour” Anshuman kisses her and begins to tell the story when Aditi comes in.” When did you come, ahh and Shruti how many times have you heard the story of the shy guy" she smiles at Anshuman, "come here and let papa relax a bit, he’s just arrived from his tour.” She smiles and takes Shruti from him.